Improvement in autographic printing



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. A. EDISGN.

AYUTOGRAPHIG PRINTING.

N.180,857. Patented Aug.8,187e.

fs. lv-

N, PEI'ERS. PMUTo-UTHOGHAPHER. WASHINGTON, n. C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. A. EDISON.

AUTOGRAPHIC PRINTING.

N.1ao.s57.

Patented Aug. 8,1876.

N. PETERS PROTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. EDISON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOGRAPHIC PRINTING.

VSpecitication forming part of Letters Patent No. [80,857, dated August 8,1876; application filed March 13, 1876.

' cred powder, dusted over and rubbed into such holes While the article is upon thesurface that receives such transfer. This is not adapted to writing, because the color employedisnot permanent, and no means has` been devised that could easily beinadeuseof in writing or draw ing by hand4 `with' rapidity that rendered the operation practically available for autographic printing.

My improvement relates, first, to the instru- `ment employed for puncturing the` paper,

whereby such instrument can be used by handin the same manner as a drawing or Writing pen 5 second, to the method of printing by direct transfer in permanent semi-liquid ink from the perforated sheet; 'and third, to the press for holding` such transfer-sheet, and the paper to be impressed. Y y

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the pen or stylus, in a form thatl I have A v discovered to be very convenient in use. Fig.

2 is a side View of the actuating-magnets. Fig. 3 is a section ot the press. Fig. 4 is a plan ofthe same, as open.4 Fig. 5 is a section of the paper-holding clamp. Fig. 6 is a section of the pen-holding stand in smaller size than the pen Fig. l.. Fig. 7 isa plan of the battery, illustrating, also, the flexible connection to the distant pen as in use. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the battery, partiallyin section; and Fig. 9 is a section of the pole-supporting catch of the battery.

The pen which I, make use of consists of a tube, a, tapering to a small point, b, and a needle, c, within that tube, which needle is reciprocated with great rapidity; and when the needle-point c is projected it is sufficiently long to reach through the paper upon which the tube of the pen rests, and when retracted the needle is drawn within the tube, so that the small end thereof is free to be moved from place to place.

rlhe great rapidity in the movement of the needle-point produces the punctures in the paper suciently close together to form lines when the pen is manipulated in Writing or drawing; and, as nothingis removed from the paper, its strength is not materially injured by the punctures or perforations; and it will be apparent that any suitable device may be employed for reciprocating the perforatingneedle; and as I have invented numerous devices for which I contemplate applying' for Letters Patent hereafter, I have only shown herein the device which I prefer to use, viz: an electro-magnet and revolving-armature liy-wheel.

The electro-magnet d is upon the frame e that supports .the axis 2 of the fly-wheel f, and this fly-wheel is connected with the armature g. Upon the axis 2 there is an eccentric or a cam, with one or more arms acting upon the stock 3 at the upper end of the needle-bar. It is preferable to employ a threepointed cam, d2, as seen in Fig. l0, upon the axis 2, so as to give three up-and-down motions to the needle-point each revolution of the axis 2.

The commutator or circuitcloser to the electro magnets is composed of the spring l, acted upon by the notched or attened disk 4 to open and close the circuit through the screw 5, and thus actuate the electro-maglietic motor in the usual manner.

The wires 6 and 7 lead to the battery shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in which the glass cells m are in a metal stand, a, held by the standard o and ring o'. The carbon-pole p and zinc-pole q are connected with the cover r and cross-bar r, that are fitted to be raised or lowered upon the standard o, and When raised out of use, as in Fig. 8, the parts are held up by the latch s passing into a notch in the standard o, as in Figs. 8 and 9. The porous cups s in the cells m are nearly half-cylinders, as shown. This construction of battery is very convenient for this autographic pen, because it occupies but little space and is easily transported and broughtintoor put out of action. The liquids preferably employed in the battery aie bichromate of potash and sulphuric acid.

The tube of the pen screws into the frame c, anditis provided with a set-nut, 9, by means of which it can be clamped after the tube has been adjusted, so as to allow the needle to be drawn into the tube and projected by the motor as aforesaid.

A stand, l', Fig. 6, is provided with a hole at the upper end, of a size to receive the tube of the pen and support the saine, and protect the point from injury when entered within such stand. The conductor from the pen to the battery must be flexible. so as to allow the pen to be easily moved about in performing the writing.

The mode of printing from the perforated sheet is to fill the holes with ink by means of Va roller applied to the right side of the perforated sheet; and then when said ink is well worked into the holes to place beneath such perforated sheet the paperY upon which the impression is to be made, and then pass over the perforated sheet a roller that presses the ink through the perforations to the surface of the sheet below.

As a convenient means for doing this printing, l make use of the bed t, to which the frame u is hinged at 12, and at the corners of this frame u are the spring-plates 13, with holding-points; and these springplates are raised from the surface of the frame by turning the cam-buttons 14, so that the perforated sheet can be placed between the frame and these clamping-springs; and then the cambuttons 14, being turned the other way, allow the springs to catch and firmly hold the corners of the perforated sheet. A sheet of paper is now laid down upon the bed t, the frame 'u turned over upon it and secured by the clamping-button 16 being turned over the edge of this frame u. A roller, covered with felt or other similar material, and having i-nk upon its surface, is now rolled over the perforated sheet until all the holes are filled and an impression made by the ink through such holes upon the surface of the sheet below. The hinged frame holding the perforated sheet may be lifted forinspectingthe impression, and closed down again if the impression is defective at any part. After the holes are fllled the impressions upon other sheets can be made in succession very rapidly, and a small quantity of ink is addedfrom time to time. Printers ink, thinned out'vwith castor'oil, may

be employed, or aniline colors may be used,

mixed with glycerine and molasses.

Various forms of electro-magnetic motors may be employed` to revolve the shaft that reciprocates' the puncturing-needle, and the movement of a vibrating armature might be transferred-directly to ,the needle, if desired.

It is generally preferable to have the perforating-needle perpendicular to the paper; and, for convenience in holding the same, there may be a-handle 'connected with the pen-tube a, and occupying an inclined position, as indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 1.

I claim as of my invention- 1. The portable perforating instrument for writing or drawing, composed of a tapering tubular stock, `adapted to be held andmoved by hand, and provided 'with a perforatingneedle and its reciprocating mechanism, substantially as specified;

2. The method hereinspeeied of printing in permanent semif1uid ink by puncturing a' sheet of paper, or` similar material; with numerous small holes, filling such holes with a semi-liquid ink, and pressing the same upon the surface to be printed, substantially as set forth.

3. The swinging frame u and paper-holding clamps 13, in combinationwith the bed t, for4 receiving and holdinglthe sheet of perforated paper, and theV sheet tobe printed, substanf tially as set forth. 4. The combination with the revolving magnetic motor, pen-holder a, and puncturingneedle c, of the cam d2`,lfhaving three or more points, substantially asset forth.

5. rlhe combination, with the portable handperforating instrumenthavin g an electro-magnetic motor, of a flexible' conductor and a battery,:substantially as setforth.

6. The portablegalvanic 4battery composed of cells in a stand, with a pole-supporting rod, latch, and cross-head,incombination with flexible conductors,afmagnetic motor, and a perforating-pen, substantially as setforth.

Signed by melthis-Tth day of Mareh,-A. D. 1876.

Witnesses: i

GEo. T. =P1NGKNEY, Guns. H.SM1TH. 

